Law targets corrupt officials

COLUMBUS

Lawmakers moved plenty of hot- button bills during their lame duck session this month — execution-drug secrecy provisions, municipal tax reform and a redistricting ballot issue come immediately to mind.

But the Ohio House and Senate also passed and Gov. John Kasich subsequently signed dozens of law changes that probably won’t get the same level of public discourse.

Here are a few of the 40-plus bills that were enacted in recent weeks, with most of the provisions taking effect in about three months. Consider this Part 1 (I’ll offer a few more in next week’s column):

HB 10: Are you a government official who’s stealing from the public coffers?

HB 10, sponsored by Rep. Christina Hagan, R-Alliance, provides a means of removing county auditors, township treasurers and other fiscal officials who break laws related to their positions.

Among other provisions, HB 10 also establishes initial and continuing education requirements for local fiscal officers and bars fiscal officers convicted of certain crimes from holding public office for at least four years and until court-ordered restitution is completed.

HB 109: Do you buy or sell hearing aids through the mail?

HB 109 requires those who sell hearing aids through the mail to obtain a “written acknowledgement” from buyers that they have been advised to see a licensed hearing professional for an in-person examination. A failure to do so could end with a fine of up to $1,000.

HB 131: Does your toddler like to spend time down at the corner tanning salon?

HB 131 requires anyone younger than 18 to have their parents on hand to sign a consent form whenever they visit tanning beds. For anyone younger than 16, parents will have to stick around the salon while their kids are using sun lamps.

HB 178: Do you think schools are having too many drills to help teach students how to prepare for fires or other emergencies?

Under existing law, most public schools are required to have at least nine fire drills each year, plus monthly tornado drills during certain times of year.

Among other provisions, HB 178 changes the requirement to at least six for public or private schools with smoke detectors and sprinkler systems in place, plus three additional safety drills and one “theoretical” safety drill for faculty and staff, according to an analysis by the state’s Legislative Service Commission. Local law enforcement must be involved in the student safey drills.

HB 247: Do you think the state should be doing more to promote the use of automated external defibrillators on individuals having heart attacks? HB 247 extends immunity from civil liability for those using the devices to try to save someone’s life.

HB 404: Do you like Purple Martins? HB 404 designates the Portage Lakes area in Summit County as the “Purple Martin Capital of Ohio,” honoring the mosquito-eating birds.

HB 440 and 474: Lawmakers excel at naming roads and creating license plates. They did both during the lame duck session

HB 440, for example, names more than 20 roads and bridges in memory of fallen military men and women and offices.

Included in the mix is a portion of Interstate 76 between its intersection with I-80 and state Route 11, which was designated as the Marine Sgt. James Prommers-berger and Army Lt. Charles W. Brown Memorial Highway.

The Vietnam veterans, both Austintown Fitch graduates, were killed in action.

In Noble County, the legislation designates a portion of state Route 147 as the Navy Diver 1st Class James E. Reyher Memorial Highway. Reyher and another diver died during an underwater training accident in Maryland.

HB 474, meanwhile, creates the “Ohio State Beekeepers Association” license plate.

Marc Kovac is The Vindicator’s Statehouse correspondent. Email him at mkovac@dixcom.com or on Twitter at OhioCapitalBlog.